Building a workshop

[damato333]

I am planning to build a workshop. It will be 40'x40'x14'. I live near Philadelphia pa. The snow load is 32 psf. I'm looking at using steel trusses that I found on eBay. There's a bunch of companies and they all look the same. I'm not sure how to add pictures. I'm looking at a company named Build a barn and they claim their trusses are rated at 32 psf spaced at 10 feet and 2"x6" runs the length of the building. I am planning on spacing them at 8 feet to be safer. What do you guys think? Should I be worried?

 

[9973720wb19]

ask the company for roof shop drawings and have them reviewed by a structural engineer

 

[texasranger556]

8' is fairly standard even for wood trusses on a pole barn that size. Also need to consider wind load/uplift requirements.

 

[flusher]

Instead of trusses I'd go with a red iron building for your shop.

 

[SkeeterFood]

You mention that the snow load is 32 psf, then mention that the steel is rated for 32 psf. What is the max snow load (historically) for your area? Also keep in mind that trees or other obstacles can cause very deep drifting on a roof, which will greatly increase the snow load for that portion. Can't figure snow load as an average, as some winters there is more and some there is less. Also, it may take more than 6' of dry snow to equal a few inches of freezing rain followed by sleet and/or snow.

Will you or have you planned on lightening the snow load if necessary? Roof rake? Getting up there with a shovel?

The joists between the steel rafters - how much load will they handle? This amount will be somewhat different than if the wood was running vertically. The rating will be somewhat less. Imagine how strong a 2x6 is lengthwise. Can you ram it into a tree and break it? Now consider the same board on its edge. Can you ram it into a tree and break it then?